Chapter 102. Two Hours

Diana called her mother the next morning.

“Could you come on Thursday afternoon?”

“Of course. What do you need?”

The question made Diana unexpectedly quiet.

“A little time,” she said. “Gabriel and I would like to go out for an hour or two.”

“I'd be happy to stay with Clara.”

Diana looked toward the cot.

“Without me.”

“Yes, darling. I understood that part.”

She laughed, then wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

They discussed the details. Afterward, Diana called Juliet about another afternoon the following week. Nobody treated the request as proof she should have asked sooner. Nobody suggested she stop caring for her own child and allow the competent people to take over.

They simply agreed to come.

When Diana told Gabriel, he put down the mug he was holding.

“You arranged it?”

“Yes.”

“How do you feel?”

“Relieved. Guilty. Rather insulted by how promptly everyone said yes.”

He smiled.<